Hodgson backs Sakho after his costly error

ROY Hodgson believes defender Mamadou Sakho is back to playing the firstclass football that earned him a big-money move to Liverpool five years ago.

This is despite Sakho’s error which cost Crystal Palace dearly against Bournemouth in their last outing.

It has been a difficult two years for Sakho. He was wrongly accused of breaching anti-doping rules in 2016 and that meant he missed Liverpool’s Europa League final and then the European Championship with France on home soil.

But Palace manager Hodgson says Sakho’s confidence has never dipped, and his recall on Thursday into Didier Deschamps’ France squad is a reward for his perseverance.

Crystal Palace lost 2-1 to Bournemouth last week after Sakho conceded an 87th-minute penalty, catching Jefferson Lerma with a flailing elbow.

Despite that error, Hodgson insists the centre back is playing as well as he ever has for Palace as they prepare to host Wolverhampton Wanderers at Selhurst Park today.

‘I compare Mamadou today — the way he is playing, his fitness, everything about him — with the player who came to us,’ said Hodgson of the defender who arrived from Liverpool for £26million in September 2017.

‘He has made enormous strides and he’s back to the player he was when Liverpool decided to spend a lot of money. That’s great for us because we’re benefiting from it.

‘He’s very, very proud about playing for his country and takes it very, very seriously. I see it as an honour for him, I see it as a recognition of the quality of the football he has played since the start of the season and I also see it as a feather in the cap for Crystal Palace football club.

‘We as a team are playing well enough to get him recognised as a potential for the world champions. I don’t think he needs a boost in confidence. He is confident, as he should be. I don’t think during the time I’ve worked with him there has ever been a situation where I’ve seen his confidence fail.’

France host Iceland in a friendly in Guingamp on Thursday before facing Germany in a Nations League tie in Paris five days later. Sakho last won a cap for Deschamps’ side in March 2016.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolves will test Palace’s back line today, while Hodgson’s side have yet to score a Premier League goal at home this season. ‘The longer you don’t win at home the more the pressure,’ said Hodgson.

Meanwhile, Palace have declared their interest in Ruben LoftusCheek should Chelsea decide to send the 22-year-old out on loan in January.